Abstract
A theory of the origin and evolution of the Solar System (Alfvén and Arrhenius, 1975, 1976) which considered electromagnetic forces and plasma effects is revised in the light of new information supplied by space research. In situ measurements in the magnetospheres and solar wind have changed our views of basic properties of cosmic plasmas. These results can be extrapolated both outwards in space, to interstellar clouds, and backwards in time, to the formation of the solar system. The first extrapolation leads to a revision of some cloud properties which are essential for the early phases in the formation of stars and solar nebulae. The latter extrapolation makes possible to approach the cosmogonic processes by extrapolation of (rather) well-known magnetospheric phenomena.
Pioneer-Voyager observations of the Saturnian rings indicate that essential parts of their structure are ‘fossils’ from cosmogonic times. By using detailed information from these space missions, it seems possible to reconstruct certain events 4–5 billion years ago with an accuracy of a few percent. This will cause a change in our views of the evolution of the solar system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alfvén, H.: 1942, Stockholms Observatoriums Annaler I 14, No. 2.
Alfvén, H.: 1954, On the Origin of the Solar System, Oxford University Press.
Alfvén, H.: 1981a, Cosmic Plasma, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland.
Alfvén, H.: 1981b, Astrophys. Space Sci. 79, 491.
Alfvén, H.: 1982, Physica Scripta T2/1, 10.
Alfvén, H.: 1983a, Geophys. Res. Letters 10, 487.
Alfvén, H.: 1983b, Astrophys. Space Sci. 97, 79.
Alfvén, H.: 1983c, ‘Space Research and Cosmic Plasma Physics’, lecture at the IUGG Meeting, Hamburg, Aug. 22, 1983, TRITA-EPP-83-06 (Preprint series of the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm).
Alfvén, H. and Arrhenius, G.: 1975, Structure and Evolutionary History of the Solar System, D. Reidel Publ. Cok, Dordrecht, Holland.
Alfvén, H. and Arrhenius, G.: 1976, Evolution of the Solar System, NASA SP-345, US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Anderson, O. A., Baker, W. R., Bratenahl, A., Further, H. P., Kunkel, W. B., and Stone, J. A.: 1959, J. Appl. Phys. 30, 188.
Axnäs, I., Brenning, N., and Raadu, M. A.: 1982, ‘The Critical Ionization Velocity: A Bibliography’, in G. Haerendel and E. Möbius (eds.), Proceedings of the Workshop on Alfvén's Critical Velocity, Oct. 11–13, 1982, Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, F.D.R.
Baxter, D. and Thompson, W. B.: 1971, ‘Jetstream Formation through Inelastic Collisions’, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Physical Studies of Minor Planets, NASA SP-267, Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 319.
Baxter, D. and Thompson, W. B.: 1973, Astrophys. J. 183, 323.
Boström, R.: 1974, in B. M. McCormac (ed.), Magnetospheric Physics, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland.
Dessler, A.: 1984, ‘Evolution of Arguments Regarding Existence of Field-Aligned Currents’, in T. A. Potemra (ed.), Magnetospheric Currents, Geophysical Monograph No. 28, American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C.
Esposito, L. W., O'Callaghan, M., Simmons, K. E., Hord, C. W., West, R. A., Lane, A. L., Pomphrey, R. B. Coffeen, D. L., and Sato, M.: 1983, J. Geophys. Res. 88, 8643.
Fahleson, U. V.: 1961, Phys. Fluids, 123.
Fillius, W. and McIlwain, C. E.: 1980, Geophys. Res. 85, 5803.
Haerendel, G.: 1983, Z. Naturforschung 37a, 728.
Hill, T. W., Dessler, A. J., and Goertz, C. K.: 1983, in A. J. Dessler (ed.), Physics of the Jovian Magnetosphere, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p. 353.
Holberg, J.: 1983, private communication.
Holberg, J., Forrester, W. T., and Lissauer, J. J.: 1982, Nature 297, 115.
Iijima, T. and Potemra, T. A.: 1978, J. Geophys. Res. 83, 599.
Krimigis, S. M., Carbary, J. F., Keath, E. P., Armstrong, T. P., Lanzerotti, L. J., and Gloeckler, G.: 1983, J. Geophys. Res. 88, 8871.
Lin, R., and Bodenheimer, P.: 1981, Astrophys. J. 248, L83.
Potemra, T.: 1979, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 17, 640.
Schardt, A. W. and McDonald, F. B.: 1983, J. Geophys. Res. 88, 8923.
Zmuda, A. J. and Armstrong, J. C.: 1974, J. Geophys. Res. 79, 4611.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alfvén, H. Cosmogony as an extrapolation of magnetospheric research. Space Sci Rev 39, 65–90 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00173670
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00173670